Shohei Ohtani Shatters MLB History Again—What’s Behind His Unstoppable Power and Speed Surge?

Shohei Ohtani made history last year as the first Major League Baseball player ever to combine 50 home runs with 50 stolen bases in a single season—an achievement so rare it almost feels mythical. Fast forward to 2025, and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ phenom is already on track to replicate something just as spectacular. Just this past Tuesday, Ohtani notched his 10th home run while also hitting double digits in stolen bases—marking yet another historic milestone early in the campaign. It’s hard not to flash back to last year, when he blasted his way to the 50-50 club in unforgettable style right at the very same ballpark.

That recent homer was a textbook rocket—no doubt about it—lifting the Dodgers back into a tie game in the sixth inning against Miami. Barely an inning later, he doubled in a clutch RBI, again tying the contest after the Marlins tried to surge ahead. This followed a jaw-dropping homer just a day before, clocked at 117.9 mph—the hardest-hit shot in the majors so far this season. After 34 games, Ohtani’s pace suggests a 47-homer, 47-steal season, assuming he stays healthy and keeps up the relentless grind through the remaining schedule. This almost feels like déjà vu; it would have been an unprecedented feat had last season’s remarkable 50-50 run not set the bar. Of course, 2024 wasn’t just about those numbers—he scooped up his third MVP award, claimed his first World Series ring, and nearly snagged the elusive Triple Crown.

And here’s the kicker: Ohtani could shake up baseball history even further if he resumes pitching this year—maybe even entering the legendary “40-40-40” club: 40 homers, 40 steals, and 40 strikeouts on the mound. That third piece depends on his much-anticipated return to pitching, which—let’s be honest—has taken longer than anyone hoped due to that pesky torn labrum sustained in the World Series. Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts joked just last weekend that Ohtani’s still a few months away from firing for the team again, despite several bullpen sessions already under his belt. But when he does return… well, it’s anybody’s guess what records he might shatter next.

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Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to post 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a single season last year. He is on pace to do something similar in 2025.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star became the first player in MLB to reach double-digit homers and stolen bases this season, hitting his 10th homer in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. You might recall him reaching the 50-50 milestone in epic fashion at the same stadium last year.

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In the case of Tuesday’s game, Ohtani’s homer was a no-doubter to the upper-deck in right field, tying the game 2-2.

One inning later, Ohtani hit an RBI double to again tie the game after a Marlins rally in the bottom of the sixth. That all came a day after he hit a different homer 117.9 mph, the hardest-hit homer MLB has seen this season.

With 34 games played for the Dodgers this season, Ohtani is now on pace to post a 47-47 season, assuming he plays in all 126 games left on the schedule. That would have been an unprecedented accomplishment had it not been for his 2024 season, which also saw him earn his third career MVP award, win his first World Series title and finish a few hits short of the Triple Crown.

Of course, Ohtani could make a different sort of history just by returning to the mound while maintaining his current offensive pace. You could even call it the 40-40-40 club: 40 homers, 40 stolen bases, 40 strikeouts pitched.

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The third leg of that trifecta assumes Ohtani returns to the mound at some point this season and throws enough innings to log the requisite strikeouts. His progress on that front has been murky at best — he was announced last year to be on pace for this year’s Opening Day, but a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder from the World Series paused his progress over the offseason.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last weekend Ohtani is still a couple months away from being ready before he’s pitching for the team again. He’s thrown a few bullpen sessions this season, but is evidently still multiple steps away from resuming his two-way status.